Why Christians Shouldn't Boycott—Or Embrace—Target

(Photo: Flickr, Mike Mozart)

Since Target proclaimed that transgender customers tin work whichever bath they want, the conservative response has been confused: Some insist boycotting the superstore is the solely option, piece others receive got proudly declared that they’ll soundless store at Target (and halt for a java at the in-store Starbucks, unopen to other highly liberal company, piece they’re at it). 

This isn’t the showtime fourth dimension Target has been the target of boycotters—but, somewhat ironically, it was left-wing customers who protested the fellowship inwards the not-so-far-off past. In 2010, later on Target donated $150,000 to MN Forward, a political activeness grouping that supported an “anti-gay” Republican candidate’s bid for governor of Minnesota, democrats together with gay rights advocates demanded that their followers boycott the store. The woman nurture of a gay homo was applauded later on posting a YouTube video of herself shopping at Target for the final time, together with thence cutting upwards her Red Card. 

In response, the fellowship spokeswoman—get this—apologized: “Our commitment correct forthwith is inwards letting people know that we’ve heard their feedback together with we’re actually lamentable that we’ve allow them down. We desire to proceed doing the many things that Target has done equally a fellowship to foster our inclusive corporate civilisation together with and thence hold off at ways of doing things ameliorate inwards the future.”

Something tells me that won’t locomote the response this time.

In fact, over the past times years, Target has taken its pledge to practise “inclusiveness” pretty seriously—well earlier the bath policy began drawing conservative ire. In 2014, Target declared its back upwards for gay marriage; inwards June 2015, the fellowship launched a #TakePride campaign, including a video montage of gay couples together with rainbow flags together with a line of “Pride products” sold inwards select stores. Apparently, “inclusiveness” doesn’t include people amongst conservative values, fifty-fifty though solely xxx part of Target customers seat equally liberal, according to a Public Religion Research Institute survey. 

So, equally a Christian friend of late pointed out to me, if nosotros were going to boycott Target, nosotros should receive got been doing it a long fourth dimension ago. 

The problem? Conservatives who insist on boycotting liberal companies—more specifically, those that back upwards the LGBT lifestyle, similar Target—are pretty much going to receive got boycott shopping altogether. 

Each year, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation puts out a Corporate Equality Index, grading companies on their tolerance toward together with accommodation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, together with transgender employees. (Criteria include things similar providing transgender-inclusive wellness care, supporting transgender employees who are transitioning—yes, that agency accommodating their bath needs—and showing world back upwards for LGBT, by, for example, donating to LGBT-friendly charities or actively recruiting LGBT employees.)

The 2016 written report gave perfect scores to a staggering position out of companies: 3M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Airbnb, American Airlines, American Express, Anheuser-Busch, Apple, AT&T, Avon, Bank of America, Barnes & Noble, Coach, Coca-Cola, CVS, Facebook, Gap, Google, Hershey, Kellogg, McDonald’s, Nike, Pfizer, and, of course, Target—just to refer a really few. In other words, if you’re going to boycott Target, you lot ameliorate locomote prepared to boycott pretty much every business, except perchance Hobby Lobby together with Chick-fil-a. (Walmart solely scored marginally lower than Target, BTW, amongst a rating of ninety out of 100.) 

Still, I don’t yell upwards the other extreme—embracing Target similar an unrepentant prodigal son—is  much better. Since Target’s announcement, I’ve seen Christians, pastors included, proclaiming on social media that nosotros should maintain buying into the bullseye, because, equally Christ-followers, nosotros should love, non shun, those who yell upwards differently than nosotros do. And that is absolutely true—if Target were a human beingness amongst a someone inwards necessitate of salvation. But here’s the thing: Target is a corporation. H5N1 profit-making, money-driven machine, non a lost someone who mightiness locomote farther led astray if Christians respond to Target’s novel policy amongst disdain, rather than tolerance. 

If you lot desire to proceed shopping at Target, past times all means, catch a cart—but let’s non fool ourselves into believing that plundering Target’s Dollar Spot is an human activeness of unconditional beloved together with Christ-like non-judgment, because, sorry, consumerism can’t locomote equated amongst evangelism. The truth is, you’re only unopen to other client who likes Target’s trendy domicile decor together with inexpensive diapers—and that’s okay. Just don’t telephone vociferation upwards opening a Red Card a display of Christian piety. 

So how tin people amongst the same beliefs province on ii totally dissimilar responses to Target’s policy? It hinges on how you lot reply a larger question: What does it hateful to locomote in the world, but non of the world? This oft-repeated phrase comes from Christ’s prayer for his disciples, inwards John 17: “My prayer is non that you lot receive got them out of Earth but that you lot protect them from the evil one. They are non of the world, fifty-fifty equally I am non of it. Sanctify them past times the truth; your discussion is truth. As you lot sent me into the world, I receive got sent them into the world.”

In other words, we’re sent to this world to mingle amongst our immature homo sinners—and ultimately, discover to them the beloved of Jesus Christ, piece resisting the temptation to allow worldly values overpower heavenly ones. Obviously, living inwards a sanitized, “sin-free” bubble won’t attain that. But volition roaming the aisles of Target—or daring to drinkable a loving cup of java brewed past times a bunch of liberals—really aid us win souls? Conversely, are nosotros to remain away from non-Christian stores altogether? Or store at the liberal stores, piece somehow distancing ourselves from their values?

This is a inquiry I haven’t yet answered. But I do know this: We subconsciously absorb the values of the places nosotros frequent. This is why nosotros encompass church building together with shun strip clubs; transportation our kids to Christian schools, instead of secular ones; eat at Chick-fil-a, but non Hooters. Exaggerated examples? Yes. But only because Target doesn’t purposefully hire big-breasted cashiers doesn’t hateful we’re exempt from the influence of its corporate culture, nevertheless gradually or subconsciously. 

If you're non convinced, consider Chick-fil-a—just walking into the house feels wholesome: The speakers play instrumental versions of Christian songs; the cashiers are exceedingly polite; together with the eating theatre makes life easier for moms, amongst footling touches similar disposable placemats for kids together with the best indoor playgrounds around. (I consider this final indicate salient to the conversation, considering the key seat of children inwards the Target bath debate.) 

The novel Target bath policy belike won’t alter my experience of the store that much, since I alive inwards a small, fairly conservative town—but I do yell upwards the policy is i indicator of increasingly blatant, in-your-face liberalism that volition color the fellowship civilisation to a growing degree. Eventually, I believe, Target’s values volition locomote on less-subtle display, forcing us to decide: Can I inure myself against the company’s values—or do I protect my line of piece of work solid unit of measurement from overt displays of secularism? 

Personally, I’ll belike maintain shopping at Target, albeit on a much to a greater extent than casual basis, non because I yell upwards the CEO volition spot me, realize a Christian is non-judgmentally roaming the aisles, together with rescind the transgender policy. I’ll larn at that spot because I similar the diapers.